On Paring and Burning. 247 



be a bad farmer, who cannot continue, for any length of time, 

 land so enriched, in a high state of productiveness ( 333 ). 

 7 Even the heat communicated to the soil by burning ( 334 ), 

 and the mixture of a substance that has passed through fire, 

 is found to be highly advantageous. 



12. Disadvantages. Among the objections to this prac- 

 tice, it is urged by some that shallow soils are thus rendered 

 shallower. But others maintain, that the earthy parts of the 

 soil are neither consumed nor diminished by burning ( 335 ) : 

 for though the bulk of the sod or turf be diminished, this 

 arises solely from the burning of the roots and vegetable 

 substances ( 336 ). Shallow soils, it is contended, are more im- 

 proved by the process, than any other ; for when thus ma- 

 naged, more of the subsoil can be safely incorporated with 

 them ( 337 ). It is likewise said, that as the animal and ve- 

 getable matters contained in the turf are destroyed, the ashes 

 cannot possess any real fertilizing quality : but the crops 

 produced by these ashes amply refute that assertion. It is 

 farther maintained, that the soil is thus deprived of its na- 

 tural grasses ; but it is also thus deprived of its natural 

 weeds, which is a most material object. In regard to grasses, 

 the artificial ones thus raised, afford a much more abun- 

 dant and valuable article of produce, and more useful as 

 fodder, than all the natural grasses ; which, on lands, such 

 as those usually pared and burnt, are generally of the worst 

 sorts. 



Some persons have asserted that it would be a better 

 plan, to pare only, and to put the parings in heaps, there to 

 remain till the mass be reduced into mould ; when these 

 heaps might be spread on the land from which they came. 

 This, however, is a laborious and expensive process, which 

 it would require a considerable period of time to perfect, 

 and which, after all, would be much less effectual than paring 

 and burning ( 338 ). 



In regard to more general objections : that it dissipates 

 what ought to be retained ; annihilates oils and mucilage ; 

 calcines salts ; and reduces fertile organic matter into 

 ashes of very weak efficacy; it may be answered, that they 

 seem to be either unfounded in fact, or that all these mis- 

 chiefs are principally to be attributed to the abuse of the 

 system, and are not found to be connected with it, under 

 judicious management ( 339 ). 



13. The Result. By the process of paring and burning, 

 a stiff, damp, and consequently a cold soil, will be converted 

 into one that is friable, dry, and warm, and much more 



